Month: January 2018

I’ve seen leather leggings all over fashion sites, but I’ve been a little intimidated by them. I bought these last year and this is the FIRST time I’ve actually put them on. I tried to pair them with things most people have in their closets….a black sweater, white scarf, and some kind of sneaker. You may already be wearing this look with black jeans; to mix it up just swap out the jeans and throw on some leather leggings or moto leggings! If you aren’t comfortable showing your derriere, just make sure your sweater comes down long enough. And, if all black is too boring for you, try throwing on a scarf or sweater with a subtle print. This will give the outfit some contrast and dimension. Since the leggings are tight on the bottom half, I would stick to looser or chunkier fabrics on the top portion. And, if you want to dress it up, grab a simple black pump or sandal.

Here are some links to leather leggings that are similar to mine and some moto leggings that are also super popular!

BRRRRRR! Y’all it is cold outside! Since we were stuck at home for this snow day, I decided to take advantage of having a photographer and snap this AMAZING leopard coat (similar here). Some people may feel limited by the print, but it’s more versatile than you think as long as you treat it like a neutral. I layered mine with this deep green, bell-sleeved, velvety sweater from my last post. I’ve also been wearing these jeans and shoes on repeat (links to all 3 here).

Here you can really see the texture of the coat and the sweater. They are both so COZY! Thank goodness because it is BELOW FREEZING outside…in Houston! Mixing metals is kind of my thing so I wanted to explain how I do it. I paired these gold earrings and necklace (link here) with with this silver ring ( link here). The trick to mixing metals successfully is to wear a piece of jewelry that has both gold and silver in it to tie it all together. Lots of earrings, bracelets, and watches are two toned and they make it easy to wear both silver and gold in your other accessories. My go to is my gold and silver David Yurman bracelet, unfortunately it is not pictured here…sorry!

As I look in my closet, I think I should have named my blog addicted to neutrals because I swear that’s all I wear! Today, when I ran through ZARA I decided to jump out of my comfort zone…just a little. Instead of my typical beige, white, black, I found some tops/sweaters that were different than things I already own. I went for different colors, shapes, and textures.

I know, I know…right now you’re thinking, “Stripes? How is that different?” The truth is, I do own a lot of stripes, but this shirt is longer (more like a tunic) than I usually wear. I won’t be able to sport my usual half tuck with it, so I’ll have to style it differently. I’m thinking cover the rear and wear some tall boots. And for this frigid weather that just blew in, I can add my cute new pompom beanie!

Next to style the green, velvety sweater. This thing is SO soft! Its cut boxier so I can leave it out or slightly half tuck it. It also has bell sleeves, something I’ve never really worn, but excited to try.

Last, this jeweled, navy number (similar option here). The texture of this sweater sort of reminds me of carpet LOL I really like the details in the applique and I think it will be a fun piece to transition into the spring.

oh! I forgot to mention that EVERYTHING in ZARA was on sale. I got 3 sweaters (one not pictured), 1 long sleeve shirt, a ridiculous t-shirt (also not pictured), and this adorable beanie for less than $70!

All right…my new years resolution is to share more with you here and over on my Instagram. I wanted to start out with a post about shopping at H&M. If you’ve seen the clothes I tag, you’ll notice a lot of them come from H&M. I fell in love with H&M’s low prices and broad variety when I lived in France in 2009. Now, we have one just down the street and I have to admit I buzz through quite often.

During my visits I have learned a few tricks that I’d like to share.

TIPS FOR SHOPPING H&M

Go in with an item in mind. This can minimize the stress of aimlessly looking through the many racks of clothes and give you a focus. If you are looking for a certain trend (velvet, pleats, floral, peplum, leather, etc.), you can keep an eye out for your particular need.

Go up a size (or 2) in the pants especially. I wear a 6 in most pants, but I usually have to buy a 10 at H&M. They also tend to run a little long, so you may need them hemmed or if you are tall…lucky you! Most of their tops fit fairly true to size or slightly small. If you are busty or have larger arms stay away from fabrics without stretch and go up a size.

Look at the materials used to make the item. Certain materials like rayon are difficult to clean and wrinkle easily so think about when you will wear it and if you want to spend the money to dry clean it or hand wash it. Also check for cotton because it may shrink if you plan to wash and dry your garment.

Browse the outer racks or racks you can tell clearly have been organized to show just a few garments. If you have time, you can peruse the $10-$20 racks or the racks that have little organization, but don’t be surprised if its difficult to sort through and find an exact item in your size.

Look for basics. H&M has an entire section of their store called basics! They have inexpensive pieces that you can easily mix and match into your wardrobe.

Don’t forget to look at accessories. They have lots of jewelry, shoes, scarves, and purses that look designer. However, if you are allergic to nickel, stay away from the jewelry.

Most of these tips can be applied at any store, especially ones where there is discounted clothing. I hope you find them helpful!